I'm Planning a Wedding!!!!!!!!
 

Today, my daughter, my only child, became engaged to a great guy!!!! We are so happy!!!! But I'm already feeling overwelmed!!!! oh my, oh my.....where to do I begin.....I've already made her a "Brides organizer" (I'll post a picture tomorrow) and would like to make her tote bags that would help her to keep her things organized. Any suggestions and help would be appreciated!!!! ANY, ANY, ANY help and suggestions would be appreciated...not sure of the date yet, but her fiance said it would not be a long engagement!!!!!

A great guy!!! That's so exciting. I hope the engagement is long enough for you to know where to begin and get done all that you need to!! Congratulations ~ a wedding is so exciting!

How exciting! I am sure the brides organizer will be well used, and one can NEVER have enough tote bags! :) I have no suggestions or help for you as I have not yet been a "mother of the bride". As your daughter starts to make her wedding plans, I suspect all the ways you can assist her will become obvious!

How exciting!! We made the favors -- I made DD's veil and DDIL made her veil with my help.

Seriously, are you the wedding planner f or this wedding? I did it for 3 and I'm glad I'm not doing it again. You have to answer some questions right away - who is paying? How formal or informal? How many attendants, how many guests, which church, what type reception, flowers? cake? music? gown? Will they take a check and just elope? Good luck.

LOL!! I helped 4 younger sisters get married before I did and I just went to a justice of the peace and than went camping.

You will need an organizer yourself. Good luck with everything and have fun. :):)

I had been in ten weddings by the time I got married. I had mine planned in 3. Weeks and then i enjoyed the next few months getting my house ready to sell and then move. Don't stress. Make the plans and then don't worry. The day will happen and you will survive. Don't sweat the small stuff. Communicate expectations and make a plan to execute it.

Weddings are not broadway productions. Or at least they should not be treated as such. Have fun!! Congrats!
Sandy

You should be the supporter and not the planner. I'd do what your daughter asks but as it is not your wedding, let her take the lead.

Agree -- this is your daughter's wedding. If finances are limited (as was our case) we just told her this is what we have to spend on your wedding and then handed her the money in an envelope and then said when it's gone, you will have to make up the rest. Really helped in her planning as to what she really really wanted in the wedding. She had a tasteful and meaningful wedding.

Been there and done that! Your daughter and her soon to be husband will make the decisions...just get your checkbook ready and enjoy the festivities. It is so much fun.

I hope the engagement will be long enough for you help make the plans and not be russed. Don't overload yourself with things to do so you can't enjoy the preparations.

Congrats! My son gets married on the 7th of Jan. My guidance would be get a BUDGET first and have it itemized so every one knows what to expect. We used that for our decision making.

A really GOOD professional wedding planner can make the whole experience go so much smoother and actually save you money since they have entrees into places you can't go and can get professional discounts.

This will be a very special time in your life so do your best to enjoy it. There are planning worksheets available that will help guide you through the details. Every time you check something off the list congratulate yourself!

A friend of mine made a monogrammed tote for all her daughter's bridesmaids and they were a big hit with the girls.

Good luck with everything!

The advice others have given you about setting the budget and communicating it to those involved is crucial.

There will be times when you will need to bite your tongue regarding something, but try!

Is there a wedding quilt

I have no wedding planning advice to offer - never been a part of, or involved in any (does watching "Bridezillas" count?).

But can I just say: CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! :thumbup:

Best wishes for the happy couple and may the future of the family be bright. I hope the planning process is smooth and as low-stress as possible. :)

Congratulations! Our DD was married last June...it was so much fun. I don't have suggestions about totes to make but I will tell you one thing she/we did....we bought one of those divided expandable folders at the office supply store and labeled each section with things like cake, reception, flowers, music, dress, invite list etc. All estimates, receipts, etc. were filed as we got them. It was a tremendous life-saver. I have it tucked away on a shelf just waiting the day when our youngest gets engaged (she is a college senior in a relationship with a terrific young man so we expect it will happen sometime fairly soon). Enjoy every minute of you wedding preparations!

Congrats and enjoy her special day.

We gave our DDs a check in the amount we would pay for a wedding. Both decided to keep the money and go to a JP after realizing the money was now their cash not money they would never see if we paid the bills for them. Saved me lot of stress. Mother of the Bride tends to be the sounding board for DD bride to be. LOL

Keep it simple! My son was married 1.5 years ago and the whole thing was less than $4000. Flowers from my garden and my father's were used for bouquets for rehersal dinner tables, wedding and reception tables. Rehersal dinner was at our house--subs and salads--the wedding was at the historical church down the road--and the reception at a log cabin pavillion with sides and fireplaces for free to those who live in the town. The bride planned all the food--and helped make some. She planned the decorations for the reception and showed us what to do. Keep it simple!!!

My daughter says hers will be even less complicated. ;-)

I suggest that you get a Wedding Planner book. I did and it helped me so much. I planned three weddings for each of my daughters and it was a lot of fun, enjoyed every minute of it. Also, had a son get married, but I didn't have too much to do for that. Just enjoyed it.

GOOD LUCK you are going to need it and the totes are a fab idea. I would label them for her also. with velcro sticky labels. THings like flowers and food and table settings. dress stuff guys stuff wedding party stuff. I got married a few years ago and it was caos because we bought a house and moved in as well as graduated college all in a three week period.

So, you've not been thru a child's wedding before. If you do nothing else, remember it's a big day for YOU too and DO NOT overburden yourself or you'll be wishing for the day after instead of the wedding day.

I made my older daughter's wedding dress 7 years ago. It came out beautifully, but was stress filled! Her sister is getting married Nov. 2012 and I am dreading the dress issue! Hopefully she will find a dress she loves the is RTW.

Best of luck with the planning and hope you don't get overwhelmed!

Pat